Technical: windows 8 tablet location server

[klubko]

Hi,
I got myself win8 tablet and would like to use OpenCPN on it. I tried the Localizer, which sometimes works, sometimes not.
I was thinking about writing an http server in c# that would interface the Geolocation API. Would this approach be a sensible solution? I am not very well versed in c++ and I am currently on a very slow connection, which does help.
I assume that opencpn is just sending http request to the server, when using the network connection?
Thanks for any pointers.

[Lake-Effect]

I'm not 100% understanding what you propose to do. Does your tablet have a built-in GPS receiver, and if not, are you looking for a solution to providing that position info from elsewhere, like from another computer with GPS data, over wifi?

I'm familiar with gpsd on Linux, and there's apparently a way to run it on a Windows box.

[nohal]

Petr...
HTTP is not used at all. The data source is a simple TCP or UDP server outputting text NMEA stream. OpenCPN connects to it as a client and reads the text.
What you would have to do is query the Windows LocationAPI, produce a valid NMEA sentence and send it out (Look for example at A very basic TCP server written in C# - CodeProject)
I have done some experiments writing a plugin to provide the location from this API directly to OpenCPN, but no usable result so far - the COM object refuses to even be instantiated in an application using WxWidgets.

Pavel

[barnakiel]

Meaning tablet Win8 GPS *NOT* available on COM?

If not available on a COM, then how does it manifest on the hardware side?

b.

[nohal]

b...
The funny part of this is that the GPS chips in the Win8 devices are exactly the same as everywhere else - sending out NMEA over serial connection. The problem is that in the OS they are not accessible as hardware device at all - the only way to get the information is a COM API (not COM port) called Windows Location API. That's why no "normal" navigation SW works with them. Not even MS's own mapping applications were working with this "new invention" until recently.

Pavel

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by nohal

b...
The funny part of this is that the GPS chips in the Win8 devices are exactly the same as everywhere else - sending out NMEA over serial connection. The problem is that in the OS they are not accessible as hardware device at all - the only way to get the information is a COM API (not COM port) called Windows Location API. That's why no "normal" navigation SW works with them. Not even MS's own mapping applications were working with this "new invention" until recently.

Pavel

So a simple hand-rolled server in C# (dot-NET) should be able to get the GPS data via the Windows Location API, and make it available on port 2947, just like gpsd, yes?

[nohal]

Yes, true. You just have to create the NMEA sentences from the objects you get from the API.

Pavel

[CarCode]

... and BTW MicroSoft never has learned to handle virtual COM ports all the years since MS-DOS.
But you can buy ($15) this for Win8 tablets: Centrafuse Inc. - Centrafuse Loclaizer

[barnakiel]

Will Microsoft ever stop their silly games? Esp. that every time they send a low ball, they lose.

;-)

b.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Will Microsoft ever stop their silly games? Esp. that every time they send a low ball, they lose.

;-)

b.

Don't worry they'll be a footnote within 5 years

Dave

[klubko]

Thanks all for the input.
@Pavel, that's what I had in mind. Seemed easier than writing a plugin (due to my poor knowledge of c++).
I suppose I can give it a shot.
Cheers
Petr

[Snore]

At work I am having some guys testing some HP tablets and getting a GPS puck to interface with ESRI Mobile Maps- a GIS product. I am 99% sure we got the puck to talk to the ESRI product.

Based on that, if the only thing you want to get onto the tablet is location, the GPS antenna and software may be the most cost and energy efficient way to go.

[klubko]

Yeah, I suppose GPS puck might be better, but I can't get it where I am now and besides, this was a matter of few hours of typing.
Seems to be working, more or less. Comments most welcome!
https://bitbucket.org/petrsimon/geolocationtcp

[ehlen000]

hi, the exe seems to work great ! makes me happy, but the coordinates seem to be wrong on my Lenovo tab 2 with win8 pro, 32 bit.

it shows me in the UK in stead of the Netherlands. is this something I can solve somehow?

kind regards, and keepmup the great work !
Andrew

[klubko]

not sure really. are you using only gps? if your wifi is on on the location can be quite off, but should stay within a country, i think. also you might need to get outdoors or give it a time. i had mixed results at the beginning, but in few minutes theresult settled reasonably